TX: DART Starts D-Link

D-Link buses begin circulating through downtown Dallas and neighboring districts on Nov. 4. The free shuttle – a partnership among DART, the city of Dallas and Downtown Dallas Inc. – connects major tourist attractions and employment centers in the city center.

D-Link buses are identified by a vibrant magenta and yellow bus wrap, arrive every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. More than 30 matching signs and ground graphics easily identify key bus stops, with nearly 70 stops total along the route.

"Rail brings people into downtown; D-Link takes them to the doorstep of their destination,” says DART President/Executive Director Gary Thomas.

Oak Cliff points of interest include the shops and restaurants of the Bishop Arts District and the Kessler and Texas theaters. After 6 p.m., the route extends from Convention Center Station to Cedars Station serve the entertainment district around Gilley’s Dallas and South Side on Lamar.

“This circulator represents another advance in our ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown and provides a much-needed link to southern Dallas,” Mayor Mike Rawlings says. “I am excited about the potential of new stops being added in the future as our city continues to grow south.”

Tour Dallas for Free

To encourage ridership, project partners are offering the D-Link service for free, eliminating the need to figure out fares or locate a ticket machine. Passengers still must purchase a DART pass to transfer to other bus and rail services. DART Police will have a regular presence on the buses to safeguard passengers.

The entire route takes approximately 45 minutes and crosses 10 of Dallas' districts. D-Link is great way to survey the city free of charge before choosing an area to explore. The frequency of the buses makes it easy to hop on and off the route to visit multiple neighborhoods in one day.

"We wanted to make it as easy as possible for visitors, residents and workers to travel between Downtown’s many unique districts," adds John Crawford, president and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc.

Improving Walkability

While D-Link is undoubtedly a tourist and convention visitor resource, the frequency and route also make it easier to reach employers located in and near downtown, including hospitals, restaurants, hotels, office buildings, cultural attractions and retail. Employees gain greater options for lunch and after-hours dining; urban residents can get around without driving.

D-Link is designed to complement other current and future transit services, including the DART System, Trinity Railway Express and Amtrak. The Union Station to Oak Cliff Dallas Streetcar and the M-Line Urban Circulator projects both will be complete by 2015, and the D-Link route will adapt accordingly.

The opening of the Orange Line extension to DFW Station in December 2014, combined with D-Link, will enable travelers to work or play in Dallas without renting a car. Local North Texas residents also will be able to explore more areas of the city without driving.